Thiophene- and benzene-modified nickel poly-yne polymers 1-5 were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The polymers, being highly soluble in common organic solvents, exhibit intense fluorescence upon excitation by ultraviolet-visible light at room temperature. The emission intensity of the polymers with thiophene-2,5-diyl is 8-277 times stronger than that of the analogous polymers without thiophene-2,5-diyl. Transient luminescence was also investigated.